Pregnancy and significant weight changes can affect more than the skin and fat of your abdomen. They may also leave the underlying abdominal muscles separated, creating a persistent bulge that exercise alone may not correct. At The Andochick Center for Cosmetic Surgery in Frederick, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Scott Andochick draws on more than 30 years of experience to evaluate diastasis recti and determine when surgical repair may help restore a firmer abdominal contour.
What Causes Diastasis Recti?
Diastasis recti occurs when the connective tissue between the two sides of the rectus abdominis muscles stretches, allowing the muscles to move farther apart. Pregnancy is a common cause because the abdominal wall expands considerably as the baby grows.
Major weight fluctuations can also contribute. Although the muscles themselves remain present, the widened space between them may change the appearance and support of the abdominal wall.
How Can You Tell If You Have Muscle Separation?
Diastasis recti may create a rounded or protruding abdomen even when you are otherwise at a healthy weight. Some people notice a ridge along the center of the abdomen when tightening their core.
Because abdominal fullness can have several causes, a professional evaluation is important. Dr. Andochick can assess whether your concern primarily involves excess fat, loose skin, muscle separation, or a combination of these factors.
Can Exercise Fix Diastasis Recti?
Targeted core exercises and physical therapy may improve strength and function in some cases, particularly when separation is mild. However, exercise cannot always restore significantly stretched connective tissue or bring widely separated muscles back together.
This distinction also explains why liposuction is not a treatment for diastasis recti. Liposuction reduces localized fat but does not repair the abdominal wall.
How Does a Tummy Tuck Address Diastasis Recti?
During a tummy tuck, Dr. Andochick can bring separated abdominal muscles into better alignment while removing excess skin. Liposuction may also be incorporated when localized fat would benefit from additional contouring.
Combining these steps allows the procedure to address several post-pregnancy or weight-related abdominal changes within one individualized surgical plan.
Find Out What’s Causing Your Abdominal Changes
Determining what lies beneath persistent abdominal fullness is an important first step toward choosing the appropriate treatment. With extensive surgical training and decades of experience, Dr. Scott Andochick provides individualized tummy tuck planning based on each patient’s anatomy and goals.
To learn more about diastasis recti and tummy tuck surgery in Frederick, MD, contact The Andochick Center for Cosmetic Surgery at 301-620-4200 to schedule a consultation.
